The number of people having their benefits sanctioned has more than doubled compared to before the pandemic. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show 78,672 people on Universal Credit (UC) across Britain were carrying a sanction in February.
That was 3.9% of claimants who could have them applied, and well up from 31,129 (2.4%) in the same month of 2020, pre-pandemic. The data could include some sanctions that go on to be overturned and repaid, although any such number is likely to be small as figures suggest relatively few are challenged.
Reasons for someone having their benefits reduced include not attending a work-related interview, failing to start a new role, or refusing a job offer. The length and severity of the punishment depends on the reason for it being imposed and whether someone has been penalised before.
